Ads and commercials are more prevalent than ever. I remember reading that at some point, commercials will be incorporated right into TV programs. And to some extent they are. I’m guessing that companies must pay big bucks to have a can of Coke or a box of Tide visible in a movie.
I’ve noticed that on the local news and The Weather Channel, the forcast is brought to you by XYZ company. And often there’s a company logo somewhere on the screen.
I’ve gotten used to waiting for a commercial before I view a video online. I don’t like it and I try not to watch it. But, I can’t figure out how to get around it.
Today, I found a new way for companies to advertise. I entered my username and password to login to a site. Then, I had to ”please verify you are human by following the instructions in the below graphic.” Below the instruction was an image with an ad. The captcha code was at the bottom of the image. And to add insult to injury, the captcha code pertained to the ad. But, at least I could read it. Some of the captcha codes are so cryptic, they’re impossible to interpret.
So, what’s next? We’re being bombarded with ads everywhere we look. And maybe we don’t even consciously see every ad. Do you ever wonder why you grab one product off the shelf instead of another? Could it be the subliminal effect of all this advertising?
What have you noticed about advertising today? Leave a comment with the most clever … or the most annoying advertising you’ve seen.
And right now, you can get one for free. Just write a short essay 100-200 words or create a short YouTube video and email it to 
As caretakers of the earth, we’re responsible for our family and so much more. The choices we make and the things we do, can have far reaching effects. Chemicals we use in our homes. Pesticides that are sprayed on our fruits and vegetables. Hormones and antibiotics that are in our meats and dairy products. They all go somewhere. And they end up in the soil, the rivers, lakes and oceans. We can make a difference by keeping the chemicals out of our environment.
We had a big, old Chrysler and a station wagon, pulling a trailer. This was actually our second trip. The first time, we drove down the Treasure Coast to Miami to find a motel to buy. Mom and dad had pretty much decided on one along US 1 in Miami. When we stopped for gas, dad asked the guy pumping the gas if he knew a good place to stay. (Remember when the gas station attendant pumped the gas?) His answer: “The Motel New Yorker.” That was the motel they were about to buy! That stretch of Biscayne Boulevard was one motel after another. Why did he pick that one? There must have been something special about it. That sealed the deal for dad.
